It's mid-January, and much of the annual bad economic news
for retired geezers is in. The meager cost-of-living increase in my annuity and
social security payments was eliminated by increases in medical insurance
premiums. Gasoline prices and our annual auto registration fee soared, courtesy
of hefty tax increases imposed by our Michigan
legislature. Property taxes also increased. Yes, state and my local governments are under
complete Republican control. Those are the same guys who preach, when running
for election, that they will spare no effort to cut taxes.
Lesser items not subject to political control also increased
in cost, or are projected to do so. What's a poor retiree to do? Of course,
it's the American way to combat bad news by ingesting a heavy dose of comfort
food. That's just what I did, although to feel completely comforted I had to
hold the cost to a minimum to blunt effects of the rising costs of just about
everything else.
Aided by some advance actions, my net cost was $3.18 (including
sales tax) for a very satisfying (and
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| What made America fat--hard to resist at any price. |
Normally, that meal would have cost nearly $7.00. How did I
get it below half price? First, I spent about five minutes filling out an
online customer satisfaction survey after a previous visit to Burger King. That
got me a coupon for a free Whopper. Then I used a gift card bought online at
a 13 percent discount to pay my tab. Next month, I'll knock another 1 percent
off the meal cost because I paid for the low-cost gift card with a credit card
for which I always get at least 1 percent off all purchases by paying my balance every
month.
I had to visit a store right next to Burger King for a necessary purchase, so no transportation costs were involved in getting to my comfort luncheon. And, on the way out I picked up a free copy of the local weekly newspaper, courtesy of Burger King. It costs 75 cents at the supermarket next door. So we might say my net luncheon cost really was less than $2.50. But that's a bit of a stretch, so let's stick with $3.18.
I had to visit a store right next to Burger King for a necessary purchase, so no transportation costs were involved in getting to my comfort luncheon. And, on the way out I picked up a free copy of the local weekly newspaper, courtesy of Burger King. It costs 75 cents at the supermarket next door. So we might say my net luncheon cost really was less than $2.50. But that's a bit of a stretch, so let's stick with $3.18.
Don't worry, I'm not going to reduce my life span by changing to a diet dominated by burgers and
fries, even at three bucks a meal and no matter how tasty the comfort food is. I'll keep my healthy standard items on the
menu--tuna or chicken chef salads. Now where can I find discounted gift cards for tuna and chicken?
